Improvement in hand-stamps



YW. H. KEELER. Hand-Stamp.

4No. 199,295. Patented Jan. 15,1878.

1 1 l mmm r'Witessesz y I 7 Inventor: MM 5,01 M/b UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLLAM n. KEELEE, on BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

uvl PRovEM ENT l/N .HAND-STAM Ps.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,295., dated January 15, 1878 application filed May 5, 1877. i

To alllfwhomct may concern:

Be it 'known that I, WngLrAu H. KEELER, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and use` ful Improvements on a Hand-Stamp and I do* enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My present invention has special reference to hand-stamps for print-ing, canceling, and similarpurposes; andit consists in the arrange-f ment of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings heretofore mentioned, Figure I is a perspective view of my improved hand-stamp. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inking-pad retainer.

Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.

A is a metallic frame, composed of two perforated sides, a a', and the top plate a, which sides are connected near their lower extremity by brace-rods c. This frame may be produced either of stamped and bent sheet metal, or in the process of casting, according to the facilities of the manufacturer.

The top plate a is provided with a hollow projection or boss, d, through which is passed the hollow plunger B, to the lower end of which is secured the die-head G, and to the upper eX- tremity thereof the knob or handle E.

The interior of the plunger B is provided with a spiral spring, F, bearing with one end upon the knob E, and with the other end upon a transverse pin, f, passed throughthe boss d and two slot-holes, b, in the said plunger B.

The diehead has grooves, wherein slides the impression-plate C', consisting of either a metallic non-yielding or a yielding plate, having the desired matter in relief.

To the frame A is pivoted, at e, an ink-pad retainer, G, consisting, as shown in Fig. 4, of a plate having two of its sides at right angles to its plane, and these sides provided with projections g, and with curved grooves, or rather slot-holes, h h.

The grooves formed by the base of the retainer and its projections g serve to retain the ink-pad H, fastened to a stiff base, J, in proper position, and to enable its removal at any time, la projecting nose or similarmeans being provided on the stiff base for this purpose. h

To the die-head G are secured two lugs, c', engaging with the slotholes h in the pad-retainer G, `to operate the same in a manner hereinafter to be referred to.

The top plate a" has two downwardly-projecting ribs, the rear one of which being provided with two lugs, i i, between which is placed a spiral spring, I, wound uponapivot, Z, from the center in opposite directions, its eX- tremities being curved to reach the pad-re.

tainer G. Itis securedto the pivot l by the pinl K, passing throughsaid pivot, and a loop formed in the center of said spring.

The ink-pad H should, preferably, be curved, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to produce a somewhat rolling action when passing over the impression-plate C', and thereby to insure perfect inking of said impression-plate by coming successively in contact with a part of the same only. It may, however, in small dies, having a limited amount of printing matter only, be made a plane surface, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In operation the action of my improved hand-stamp is as follows: The spiralspring F keeps the plunger B and its accessories elevated until acted upon by the operator for making an impression of the die by taking hold of the knob E and depressing the same.

lIn descending the lugs c', engaging with the slot-holes h in the pad-retainer, cause the latter to recede from and to move out of the way of the impression-plate, gradually assuming a nearly vertical position by the time said impression-plate reaches the surface upon which printing is to be done. In ascending a reverse operation of that described takes place, caused by the action of the spiral spring F upon the knob E, and the lugs c upon the pad-retainer G. The inking-pad reaches that corner ofthe die-plate carrying the lugs c first, and, While the plunger B is still ascending, gradually passes over, or rather comes in contact with, theentire surface thereof, so that by the time said plunger has reached its normal position the entire surface of the impression-plate is inked, and the pad-retainer in a horizontal position, and ready for the neXt impression.

It will be observed that the impressionplate is slid into the die-head, and therefore readily removed for cleaning or changing plates. The ink-pad is securedl to a stiff base, and likewise slid into the pad-retainer, so as to be changed in amoments time with pads of a dierent color.

In order to enable the Withdrawal of the inkpad, and for this purpose to swing the padretainer from the impression-plate, the slotholes hin the sides of the saidretainer are curved at h', so as to allow-the retainer being moved .a quarter-revolution around its pivots e, Without depressing the plunger B more than to bring the said retainer Within convenient reach of the operator, it being Within the casing or compartment formed by the bent parts of the four sides of the frame A, and therefore not easily accessible. This casing, to Which the pad-retainer, as it Were, forms a cover, prevents dust, Sto., from reaching the ink-pad and impression-plate, and therefore preserves the stamp in perfect Working order. When a pad has been inserted into the retainer, as heretofore described, this returns to its original position by the action of the spiral spring I.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claimp 1. A hand-stamp in Which the ink-pad -retainer is pivoted to the frame Within the sides a a', and caused to recede from and advance` to the impression-plate by the action of the v lugs c upon the slot-holes h in the sides of a box-shaped compartment, the impressionplate O, provided with the lugs c', and the inking-pad retainer Gr, pivoted Within said boxshaped compartment, and actuated by the lugs c' acting upon the sides, and the spring I pressing upon the back of said pad-retainer, the Whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially in the manner as and for the use and purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a pivoted pad-retainer having the curved slot-holes h h, of the spring I, arranged to act upon the said re tainer, substantially in the manner and for the use and purpose set forth and described. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereto set my hand and aixed my seal in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

W. H. KEELER. [L. S.] Attest: MICHAEL J. STARK, FRANK HrRscH. 

